Pitt trying to find consistency as Eastern Kentucky visits

Pitt is out to redeem itself after two weeks of inconsistent play as it prepares to host Eastern Kentucky on Wednesday night.The Panthers (8-2) have had a couple of hiccups since a 6-0 start to the season, dropping two of their past four games. They were blown out 90-57 by Mississippi State in an SEC/ACC Challenge game on Dec. 4 before bouncing back for a 64-59 victory at Virginia Tech on Saturday.Defense carried Pitt against the Hokies, with the Panthers forcing 17 turnovers and limiting Virginia Tech to 32 percent shooting from 3-point range (8 of 25), including 2-of-10 success in the second half.Jaland Lowe led the Panthers’ offense with 19 points, and Ishmael Leggett added 17. Lowe and Leggett are averaging 17.1 and 17.0 points per game, respectively, on the season.Pitt coach Jeff Capel is hoping his team can carry any momentum earned from the weekend into the matchup with the Colonels (5-4).”That’s a heck of a win by us,” Capel said after the Saturday contest. “I thought it was an unbelievable effort by Virginia Tech, but we just made plays, we stayed the course and we got stops. We rebounded the basketball, and then we were able to make enough plays on the offensive end to win.”